EPP denies DSS suspension

In spite of reports to the contrary, the European People's Party denies the suspension of the DSS on its website. EPP President Wilfried Martins officially denied the news that the Democratic Party of Serbia’s (DSS) membership of the bloc had been suspended. EPP denies DSS suspension The DSS is an associate member of the bloc of Europe center-right parties. The news that the DSS had not been suspended was confirmed by EPP spokesman Javier Jimenez. “A summit of presidents and prime ministers from the ranks of the EPP was held yesterday in Brussels, and no such decision was taken. EPP decisions are taken by the party’s policy committee which will next meet in May,” said Jimenez. Tanjug’s sources at yesterday’s meeting claim that German Christian Democrats, led by Doris Pack, proposed the suspension and even expulsion of the DSS because of Vojislav Kostunica’s approach to the Kosovo problem and matters of European integration. Pack’s position faced opposition from EPP Vice-President Jacek Wolski and Croatia’s Ivo Sanader. Earlier, it was reported that the EPP had suspended the DSS’s observer status within its bloc. European Parliament (EP) official Alain Lamassoure said that the EPP wanted to send the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica a message to begin assuming “more European positions. ”The suspension, which means that DSS officials will not be allowed to attend the bloc’s meetings in the EP, has no time limit. “We will see what happens after the elections and what Mr. Kostunica’s election platform will be,” Lamassoure said. The EPP also includes the ruling Christian Democratic Union of Germany and French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s party. “In the last few months, Mr. Kostunica has not behaved as part of our family. He opposes every European approach and is blaming the European Union and European countries for everything. He is no longer interested in EU integration and supports stronger ties with Russia at the same time,” German diplomat Doris Pack told the BBC. She said that Kostunica must understand that members of the EPP bloc should have the same values and goals.

EPP denies DSS suspension

The DSS is an associate member of the bloc of Europe center-right parties.

The news that the DSS had not been suspended was confirmed by EPP spokesman Javier Jimenez.

“A summit of presidents and prime ministers from the ranks of the EPP was held yesterday in Brussels, and no such decision was taken. EPP decisions are taken by the party’s policy committee which will next meet in May,” said Jimenez.

Tanjug’s sources at yesterday’s meeting claim that German Christian Democrats, led by Doris Pack, proposed the suspension and even expulsion of the DSS because of Vojislav Koštunica’s approach to the Kosovo problem and matters of European integration.

Pack’s position faced opposition from EPP Vice-President Jacek Wolski and Croatia’s Ivo Sanader.

Earlier, it was reported that the EPP had suspended the DSS’s observer status within its bloc.

European Parliament (EP) official Alain Lamassoure said that the EPP wanted to send the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Koštunica a message to begin assuming “more European positions.

”The suspension, which means that DSS officials will not be allowed to attend the bloc’s meetings in the EP, has no time limit.

“We will see what happens after the elections and what Mr. Koštunica’s election platform will be,” Lamassoure said.

The EPP also includes the ruling Christian Democratic Union of Germany and French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s party.

“In the last few months, Mr. Koštunica has not behaved as part of our family. He opposes every European approach and is blaming the European Union and European countries for everything. He is no longer interested in EU integration and supports stronger ties with Russia at the same time,” German diplomat Doris Pack told the BBC.

She said that Koštunica must understand that members of the EPP bloc should have the same values and goals.